Sky Blues boss Mark Robins has praised his side for their determination and character, after their recorded a third win on the bounce away at Stoke City.
Gustavo Hamer and Jamie Allen were both on target at the bet365 Stadium as City kept a fourth consecutive away clean sheet, a record for the club in the top two divisions.
Speaking to the media after the game, Robins said:
On the game...
“It was a really hard-fought game with not a lot in it. They’ve got some top players and they started the game a lot brighter, and we gave them the ball back too often. We didn’t get to grips quickly enough with it and in the shape. We were playing we needed to keep the ball.
“They’ve got some intelligent players that were finding the space and they were switching the ball with quality which meant we couldn’t get the ball back and when we did get the ball back we tried to play one-touch into a press and we lost the ball.
“What we did do was stay in the game. We didn’t back off them at all, and we managed to keep pressing against them.
"We tried to move the line up to condense the space to stop them from getting any real opportunities, the only one I remember is when they hit the bar from the corner and it was a brilliant set-play.
"Having said that, we should’ve won the header, but ultimately it has stayed out. That’s the only chance that caused us a problem.
“Then we built into the game. The quality we got from Jamie [Allen], and the calmness to receive and finish, was excellent - and the second one: They were two unbelievable goals.
"It was brilliant feet from Gus[tavo Hamer] and the technique to finish- that was the quality we needed to win the game and be able to do that against this quality of opponent is a testament to the work they’re putting in at the moment."
“Gustavo's goal was outstanding, absolutely outstanding. We can’t be without the quality Gus' brings."
On the character shown by his players...
“They’re working for each other. It’s not quite there, but it is building. One or two are maybe disappointed with what they’ve contributed, and I don’t know why! I’ll get to the bottom of that, but ultimately it was a win and a good team performance.
"It is just what we needed at this time, and just what we wanted, and it was backed by brilliant support again. It was magnificent!"
On the return of Callum O’Hare...
“I think with everybody being available and fit it gives us a much better chance, and we can use different formations and different ways when those players are available: that’s what you miss when players like Callum are unavailable. It was really good to see him back."
On the club's fourth consecutive away clean sheet...
“There’s been a lot of hard work on the training ground and, for us, it’s always about how you perform and how you recover. We played a day later than Stoke, and you could see that at times.
“However, we looked physically fit and we’re getting fitter as a team, and we’re getting the confidence that the results bring."